Slug casting machine



Oct. 31, 1939. E, H, WQODHALL 2,178,318

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed March 19, 193e e sheets-sheet 1 JM jyar/virale BY Z l 77 7M@ AToR/VEXJ Oct. 3l, 1939.` E. H. wooDHALL SLUG CASTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1938 NVENTOR W- /lmx- L A :frog/VE YJ Oct. 3l, 1939. E. H. wooDHALL SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 31, 1939.` E. H. wooDHALL SLUG CASTING MACHINE l Filed March 19, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 NI/ENTOR B Y @n M JMJK/ @n D Ww t ATTORNEY@ Oct. 3l, 1939. E. H. wooDHALl.

SLUG CASTING MACHINE 6 Shets-Sheet 5 Filed March 19, 1938 n z I E 2,/zENTo/e Oct. 3l, 1939- E. H; wooDHALl.

SLUG CASTING MACI'QIINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 19, 1938 N QENTO/Q BY 777W/ @W7 Patented Oct. 31, 1939 PTENT FF'ECE SLUG CASTING MACHINE tion of New York Application March 19,

28 Claims.

This invention relates to slug casting machines, wherein printing slugs or type bars are cast in a slotted mold and delivered to a galley by an ejector advancing from the rear against the edge of the slug. In these machines, there are provided a plurality of molds (usually four in nurnber) mounted upon a disc which is rotated by means of a power-operated pinion, first through a quarter of a revolution to bring the operative mold into the slug casting position and then, after the slug has been cast, through threequarters of a revolution, to bring the mold into the slug ejecting position. The individual molds are adjustable in length to produce slugs of different lengths, as in printing columns or pages of different width, and the ejector employed is therefore constructed so that it may be varied in width to correspond with changes in the length of the mold slot. y

For instance, as illustrated in U. S. Letters Patent to John R. Rogers, No. 967,976, there is commonly employed a composite ejector comprising a series of blade sections arranged edge to edge in contacting relation, and suitable devices whereby any desired number of sections can be connected with the ejector slide while the others are left free and remain at rest. This means, of course, that every time a mold of diierent length is selected for use, an adjustment must be made in the effective width of the ejector blade to correspond to the length of the mold selected.

According to the present invention, the width of the ejector blade is adjusted to correspond to a given mold automatically as such mold is selected for use. In selecting a mold for use, the mold disc turning pinion is usually moved forward to uncouple it from the driving mechanism, the mold disc thereafter rotate' manually by means of the pinion to bring the desired mold into op- 40 erative position, and thereafter the pinion moved rearwardly to reestablish the driving connection. t is during this operation of selecting a mold for use that the improved mechanism acts to adjust the width of the ejector blade in accordance with the length of the selected mold.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a portion of a slug casting machine equipped with the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional View through the center of the mold disc;

Fig. 3 is a left side elevational View, partly in section, of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1, and with the parts in normal position;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, but showing 1938, Serial No. 196,823

the parts in a position wherein the mold disc turning pinion has been pulled forward preparatory to rotating the mold disc to select a different mold for use;

Fig. 5'is a front elevation of the mold disc turning pinion and a portion of the mold disc, showing the parts just as the mold disc starts to turn in the selection of a different mold for use;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts immediately after the mold disc turning pinion has been moved rearwardly after the newly selected mold has been adjusted into operative position, and wherein the ejector slide has been moved forwardly to adjust `the effective width of the ejector blade to correspond with the length of the mold;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism through which the adjustment of the ejector blade is effected under the control of the shaft on which the mold disc turning pinion is mounted;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view through the ejector mechanism, showing the connecting devices between the ejector slide and one of the blades of the composite ejector, locked in inactive position;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the connecting devices between the ejector slide and one of the blades of the composite ejector, locked in active position;

Fig. l0 is a vertical sectional view on line lll-l IJ of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 1l is a vertical sectional View on line ll-Il of Fig. 10.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention (see Figs. 1 and' 2), the machine is shown with a mold disc A equipped with four molds A, any one of which can be selected for use. When the machine is at rest, the operative mold, as usual, is located at the right in a vertical position. During a casting operation, however, the mold disc is rotated through a quarter of a revolution in a counter-clockwise direction to locate the operative mold at the top, in which position a line of matrices is presented thereto, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype, and the mold disc thereafter rotated in the same direction through three-quarters of a revolution to return the mold to its normal vertical position. An ejector blade B is then moved forwardly from the rear into the mold to eject the slug therefrom.

The mold disc A is driven from the main shaft (not shown) of the machine through a pinion A2 fixed near the front end of a shaft A3 extending in a fore-and-aft direction and journalled in brackets M Xed in the machine frame (see Figs. 3 and '7). At its rear end, the shaft is geared to a counter shaft A4 driven from the main shaft of the machine in a manner well known.

The mold disc pinion A2 also serves in selecting the different molds for use and, to this end, the shaft on which it is mounted is made in two sections (see Fig. 3), the rear section A5 being formed with a cylindrical recess A6 to receive a reduced portion A7 formed at the rear end of the front section A8 of the shaft, both sections being provided with collars A9, A10 adapted, in the normal position of the parts, to engage one another, the collar A9 associated with the rear section of the shaft being provided with a pin a adapted to extend into a hole al drilled in the collar A10 associated with the front section of the shaft and which registers with the pin when any one of the molds is in operative position. The collars are Xed to their respective shaft sections, the one at the rear having a splined connection a2, and the one at the front having a pinned connection d3. rIhe shaft sections are normally maintained in their coupled relation by means hereinafter more fully described. Suce it to say here, when it is desired to adjust the mold disc A to select a different mold for use, the pinion A2 is pulled forwardly until the coupling collar A10 at the front clears the coupling p n a, whereupon the pinion may be turned in either direction to bring the desired mold into the operative or slug ejecting position. The forward and the rotational movements of the mold disc turning pinion are facilitated by a handle All with which said pinion is provided.

As shown in Fig. l, the molds A1 include each a body portion a4 secured to the mold disc, a cap portion a5, and a par of intermediate liners d@ dening the ends of the mold cavity, the cap portion being held down on the liners by set screws a7 threaded through a portion of the mold disc and engaging against the cap portion at the top. The molds are adjustable both as to length and width, this adjustment being effected by the interpositioning of diiferent liners between the body portion and the cap portion of the mold. Since the molds do vary in length, it is obvious that some provision must be made for employing an ejector blade having an effective width corresponding to the length of the mold slot or cavity.

The ejector blade B herein illustrated (Fig. 6) is of the so-called composite type, that is, it consists cf a series of sections B1, each of small width, and arranged one above the other with provision for independently connecting the sections to an ejector slide B2 movable for a limited distance in a fore-and-aft direction by the main shaft of the machine through means which includes a connecting arm B3. According to this arrangement, a number of sections B1 of the composite ejector blade, corresponding in total width to the length of the mold slot, are positively connected to the ejector slide, the remaining sections being disconnected therefrom so that, as the ejector slide moves forward, to effect the ejection of the slug from the mold, only those sections that are positively connected to the slide will be active, the disconnected sections being inactive and remaining stationary.

The parts as thus far described, together with their mode of operation, and except as hereinafter indicated, are the same as in the commercial machine. The present improvements provide for the automatic selection of the proper number of ejector blade sections to cooperate with a given mold when such mold is adjusted into operative position under the control of the mold disc turning pinion as previously described.

This automatic adjustment of the ejector blade contemplates a forward movement of the ejector slide B2 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 6 after the selected mold has been adjusted into operative position. Depending upon the length of the mold slot, a certain number of sections of the ejector blade during such movement of the slide will be projected into the mold slot, whereas the remaining sections will be arrested in their forward movement by the engagement thereof with the rear edge of the intermediate mold liner d5. Thereupon, the sections that have entered the mold cavity, will be coupled to the ejector slide, whereas those that have been arrested by the liner will remain uncoupled therefrom. It is in this way, that the number of active sections necessary for a given mold is determined.

Before describing the mechanism by which the ejector slide B2 is moved forward to effect the adjustment of the composite ejector blade B, it is thought perhaps best to describe briey the construction of the ejector mechanism itself: In addition to the slide B2 and the blade B just referred to, the mechanism further includes a series of coupling rods B4 slidably arranged and guided in horizontal grooves formed in the usual mold disc slide B and permanently coupled at their front ends to the composite sections of the ejector blade, it being understood that there is one such coupling rod for each section of the blade (see Figs. 8, 9, l0 and 11). At their rear ends, the coupling rods are adapted to be connected to the ejector slide through the medium of .independent coupling devices. These independent coupling devices are best illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 and include each a pin b extending transversely through the ejector slide and adapted to engage in a recess b1 formed in an enlarged portion at the rear end of the coupling rod B4. The pin is urged into the recess by an angularly-shaped leaf spring 'b2 fastened at the front of the ejector slide and having its free end extending rearwardly and engaging a head b3 with which the pin is provided. The arrangement is such that, as the ejector slide B2 is moved forward to effect the adjustment of the blade, the coupling rods Bt, and consequently the blade sections B1, will likewise move forward to project the sections into the mold as shown in Fig. 9. Where the mold is of less than normal length, however, one or more of the blade sections will be arrested by banking against the intermediate mold liner, in which case the associated pin or pins b will be camrned up out of their respective recesses, and consequently will not be coupled with the ejector slide for operation thereby (see Fig. 8). The pins b are thereafter locked in their respective positions, so that, during the normal operation of the machine, those blade sections that have been coupled to the ejector slide by the maintenance of their pins in the recesses will be active in ejecting the slug from the mold, whereas those sections whose associated pins have been cammed out of the recesses in the coupling rods will remain stationary as the ejector slide moves back and forth.

The pins b are maintained in their different position of adjustment through means which include swivel plates b1associated one with each of the pins and a common T-shaped locking bar BS having a vertical portion B7 arranged to engage each swivel plate either at its lateral edge, as shown in Fig. 8, or in a recess b5 formed in one end thereof, as shown in Fig. 9, the rst mentioned adjustment being that wherein the pin b is held out of the recess b1 in the coupling bar, and the latter adjustment, that wherein the pin remains in the recess under the action of its spring b2. The T-shaped locking bar Bs is arranged for limited fore-and-a'ft movement with respect to the ejector slide B2, and for this purpose it is formed with a horizontal portion B8 connected to the slide by means of pin and slot connections be (Fig. 10) and normally held toward the right-in a position wherein it will lock the swivel plates in one position or anotherby a spring B1 fastened at one end to the locking bar and anchored at its opposite end to the ejector slide.

Assuming now that the ejector slide B2 is in its rearmost position (which is its normal position when the machine is at rest), all of the pins b will be in lateral registry with their respective recesses b1 and either in or out depending upon the previous blade setting. The new mold for which the blade B is to be set having arrived in operative position, the ejector slide is moved forward by means hereinafter described. During the first stage of such movement, the locking bar B6 will be held stationary by means alluded to hereinafter, so that all of the swivel plates will be moved out of engagement therewith, and consequently will be freed for adjustment by the pins b. Each swivel plate is adjusted by its associated pin b through the medium of a hinge plate b1 arranged beneath the spring b2 and pivotally mounted at one end in the ejector slide and having its other end engaging in a notch b3 formed in the swivel plate in the end thereof opposite that which is engaged by the locking plate B6. The hinge plate b1 is formed with a hole through which the pin b extends and is urged into engagement with the head b3 of `the pin by a small spring b3 seated in a recess formed in the ejector slide and pressing against the hinge plate at the inner face thereof. As soon, therefore, as the swivel plates are released by the locking bar B6, those pins b which were not previously projecting into the recesses b1 will immediately seat therein under the action of their springs b2, and all of the swivel plates will be adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 9, it being understood that the springs b2 are stronger than the springs b9. As the ejector slide continues to advance, the blade sections will be projected into the mold unless, indeed, their movement is arrested by banking against the mold liner. In the former case, the pins b and their associated swivel plates will remain undisturbed. In the latter case, however, the pins will be cammed up out of the recesses b1 in the coupling bars and against the tension of the leaf springs b2. This movement of the pins will allow the associated hinge plates 197 to move away from the ejector slide under the action of their springs b3, with the result that the associated swivel plates b4 will be adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 8. As the ejector slide completes its forward movement, the locking plate B6 is released, whereupon it springs forward relative to the ejector slide and engages the swivel plates at their edges in the case of the rods B1 that have been uncoupled from the ejector slide, as in Fig. 8, or in the notches b5 in the case of those rodsl that have remained coupled with the ejector slide, as in Fig. 9. In either case, however, the pins b will be maintained in their adjusted positions and the effective length of lthe ejector blade fixed for the particular mold in use.

At this point, it might be stated that the swivel plates b'1 are each mounted in an individual slot formed in the ejector slide B2 (see Figs. 10 and 11) and pivoted on a common pivot rod B10 extending vertically through the slide from top to bottom. It might also be stated that lateral support is given to the locking bar Bfi by a series of three studs b10 projecting from said member and engaging that portion of the machine in which the ejector slide is mounted (Figs. 8, 9 and l0). Furthermore, it will be noted that, in the case of those rods B1 that have been coupled to the ejector slide, such rods will be positively moved forward by the slide during the ejection of a slug through the medium of the swivel plates b4, since the latter have portions that engage directly against the rear ends of the coupling bars when they are in the position shown in Fig. 9. In other words, during the ejection of a slug, force will be transmitted directly from the slide B6 to the swivel plates b4 and thence directly to the active coupling rods B4. While the pins b, under such circumstances, will be cammed up out of their respective recesses, as the blades B1 enter the mold slot to eject the slug, they will again enter the recesses as the ejector slide is moved rearwardly to normal position to withdraw the blades from the mold slot after the slug has been ejected.

Ordinarily, as in the commercial machines, the ejector slide B2 is positively connected to the connecting arm B3 for operation thereby, through the medium of a disc and socket connection which permits a certain degree of angular movement of the arm with respect to the slide as the latter is moved forward and backward during the slug ejecting operation. In the present instance, however, the forward movement of the ejector slide, to effect the setting of the ejector blade, occurs independently of the connecting arm, since the latter remains stationary when the machine is at rest. Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 3, the arm B3 is formed at its front end with a recess b11 defined by a downwardly extending portion Z312 at the front and by a shoulder D13 at the rear. The disc and socket connection b11 between the arm and slide is present as usual, but in this instance the disc is presented at the end of a rod D15 extending through the depending portion Z212 of the arm and formed at its rear end with a reduced portion 1216 extending into a guiding hole drilled in the arm perpendicular to the shoulder 1913. Encircling the shaft is a compression spring b1'1 reacting between the rear face of the depending portion Z212 of the arm B3 and a collar Z113 pinned to the shaft and which, in the normal position of the parts, bears against the shoulder Z213 at the rear end of the recess. During the operation of the machine, the arm B3 and the ejector slide B2 are maintained in their normal relative positions by the string Z711 just referred to. However, when the ejector slide is moved forward during the setting of the blade B which, as previously stated, occurs during a time when the connecting arm B3 is stationary, the spring will yield, allowing for the necessary relative movement between the connecting arm and the ejector slide; and, when the ejector slide is released after the setting of the ejector blade, the spring D11 will return the parts to normal position.

It will be recalled that, during the initial movement of the ejector slide B2 to effect the adjustment of the ejector blade, the locking bar B6 is held stationary in order to release the swivel plates h1 which are then set in one position or another, depending upon the length of the mold in use and that, after the swivel plates have been set, they are locked in their adjusted positions by the locking bar, which is allowed to return to its normal position under the action of its associated spring B9. These movements of the locking bar are controlled by a latch member 811 (see Fig. 3) pivotally attached at its rear end to the connecting arm B3 and which, at its front end, engages a shoulder 1319 formed in the upper edge of the horizontal portion Bg of said locking bar, the latching engagement being maintained under normal conditions by a leaf spring B12 mounted on the ejector slide and pressing down on the latch member. Since the connecting arm B3 to which the latch member is pivot/ally secured remains stationary during the adjustment of the ejector blade, said latch member will hold the locking bar B11 likewise stationary during the initial forward blade adjusting movement of the ejector slide, so that the swivel plates b1 of the coupling devices will be released, as previously described. However, after the ejector slide B2 has moved forward a distance sufficient to effect the setting of the blade, in accordance with the length of the mold as well as the adjustment of the swivel pla-tes, a pin B13 xed in the slide and beneath the latch member B11 will engage a downwardly projecting portion i220 thereof, and cam it upwardly against the action of its associated leaf spring (see Figs. 6 and l0), thus releasing the locking bar B6 and allowing it to return to its normal position relative to the ejector slide under the action of: the spring B11. This movement of the locking bar back to its normal position will lool?. the swivel plates b4 in their various positions of adjustment, as previously stated (Figs. 8 and Q). Thereafter, when the ejector slide B2 is returned rearwardly to its normal position (the blade adjustment having been effected), the normal connection between the latch member B11 and the locking bar B6 is restored under the action of the leaf spring B12, since the pin B13 will, dining such return movement of the slide, have moved from the downwardly projecting portion b21 of the latch member. In this connection, it will be noted that the latch member B11 and the locking bar Bs are formed with complementally bevelled surfaces to facilitate the return of these parts to their normal positions.

Having described how the ejector blade itself is adjusted in accordance with the length of the mold slot, there now remains to be described the manner in which this adjustment is effected automatically as the diierent molds are brought into operative position. Referring to Fig. 3, which shows the parts in normal position, it will be observed that the shaft A3 (on which there is mounted the mold turning pinion A2) is provided with a sleeve C formed with a series of internal annular ratchet teeth c which cooperate with multiple teeth in a pawl D pivotally mounted in a slot formed in the shaft A3 and spring-pressed into engagement with the teeth, as by the leaf spring d. This pawl holds the sleeve C in. spaced relation with the front couair/asis pling collar A10 against the tension of a heavy pull spring E fastened at its front end to a depen-ding arm C1 of the sleeve and having an anchorage in the machine frame. There is also provided a coil spring C2 encircling the shaft A3 and reacting, in opposition to the previously mentioned pull spring E, between abutments presented at the inner ends of opposed recesses A12 and C3 formed, respectively, in the collar A1D and sleeve C. This spring C2, however, is not as strong as the pull spring E. A lever F (see Figs. 3 and 7), centrally pivoted on a standard M1 rising from the base of the machine, is pivotally connected at one end to the depending arm C1 of the sleeve C, and likewise pivotally connected at its opposite end to a horizontal slide G secured by pin and slot connections G1 to a bracket M2 bolted to the machine frame, said slide G being arranged for limited movement in a fore-andaft direction, as determined by the length of the slots in the connections just alluded to. This slide at its rear end is pivotally connected to the center of a vertical lever H hinged at its lower end to the machine frame and provided at its upper end with an anti-friction roller H1 a1'- ranged to engage an angular arm Bl1 depending from the ejector slide B2 (Figs. 3 and ll).

Assuming now that the operator desires to change over from one mold to another, he rst, by means of the handle A11, pulls the shaft A3 forwardly until the collar A10 at the front clears the coupling pin a, Xed in the collar A9 at the rear. in other words, he moves the parts from "reir normal positions, as shown in Fig. 3, to the positions shown in Fig. 4. This forward movement of the shaft is against the tension of the pull spring E and, since the sleeve C is coupled to the shaft at this time, the lever F connected to the sleeve will be turned in a counterclockwise direction, looking at the parts from the top, so as to move the vertical lever H from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 to the solid line position shown therein. At the same time, a lug d1 formed on the Lipper edge of the sleeve retaining pawl D is presented beneath a Xed overhead bracket J which, at its lower end (see presents a pair of downwardly extending cam surfaces j. The operator now turns the mold disc pinion A2 to bring the new mold into operative position. The initial movement of the mold disc pinion shaft will effect the disengagement of the pawl D from the sleeve C, as a result of the coaction between the lug d1 on the pawl and one or the other of the cam surfaces fi, depending, of course, upon the direction in which the shaft is turned (Fig. 5).

As soon as the sleeve C is released by the pawl D, it will move rearwardly under the action of the pull spring E until it is arrested by its engagement with the forward coupling collar A10. This movement of the sleeve, through the lever connection l'l, previously described, will move the horizontal bar G forwardly, the latter in turn rocking the lever H, so as to bring the anti-friction roller H1 located at the upper end thereof into contact with, or at least into close proximity to, the depending arm B11 of the ejector slide B2. The extent of movement of the lever H, however, at this time will not be such as to cause any forward movement of the ejector slide. During the rearward movement of the sleeve C, the coil spring C2 acts to cushion the impact, so that noise and shock to the parts are substantially eliminated.

The operator continues to turn the mold disc pinion A2 until the desired mold'arrives in operative position, at which time, of course, the hole a1 in the front coupling member A10 registers with the pin a in the rear coupling member A9, it being understood that, as soon as the lug d1 on the pawl D leaves the cam surface j with which it has been in contact, the pawl will bring back into engagement with the teeth c in the sleeve C, the relative positions of the pawl and sleeve at this time being shown in Fig. 6. Alfter the desired mold has arrived in operative position, the handle A is released, whereupon `the sleeve C again, under the action of the pull spring E, will move rearwardly to effect the recoupling of the forward portion A3 of the shaft A3 with the rearward portion A5 thereof through the coupling members A9, A10. This additional rearward movement of the sleeve will, through the lever F, move the bar G toits foremost position, and the bar in turn, through the vertical lever H, will move the ejector slide B2 forwardly to effect the adjustment of the ejector blade B in the manner herelnbefore described. The position of the parts at this stage of adjustment is shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

As previously stated, the forward movement of the ejector slide B2 at this time is against the action of the spring Z317 associated with the rod Z715 that couples the slide to the connecting arm B3, and consequently the large pull spring E must be of suiicient strength to overcome the combined action of the spring E and the compression spring C2 between the sleeve C and the coupling collar A10.

After the width of the ejector blade B has been adjusted to correspond to the length of the mold in operative position, the parts must be returned to their normal positions, so that the machine will be ready for operation. It will be recalled that, after the desired mold has been located in operative position, thefrelease of the handle A11 by the operator permitted the strong pull spring E to actuate the sleeve C rearwardly, which in turn, through the lever F, moved the foreand-aft bar G to its foremost position, as shown in 7, to eect the forward blade setting movement of the ejector slide. As the bar G is thus moved, an anti-friction roller G2 at the forward endrthereof engages an extension of the usual starting handle K which, through a toggle connection K1 and a long fore-and: aft link K2, controis a clutch lever K3 through which the machine can be started. This forward movement of the bar G will turn the handle K from the intermediate position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 7 to the position shown by the solid lines,

which latter position is determined by the banking of the handle against a stop K1 formed on a bracket secured to the machine frame. When the handle K is in this position of adjustment, the toggle connection K1 will be straightened out, so as effectively to lock the machine against operation.

Now, after the ejector blade has been adjusted, the starting handle K is pulled back to its neutral position by the operator, whereupon the foreand-after bar G is oammed rearwardly, thus restoring the sleeve C to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, through the medium of the intermediate lever F and against the tension of the spring E. As the sleeve C is thus restored, the teeth c therein ripple over the teeth in the pawl D and, when the manual pressure on thestarting handle is released, said pawl will maintain the sleeve in its normal position against the tension of the pull spring E. It will also be noted that, as the bar G is moved rearwardly by the starting handle, the pressure exerted by the vertical lever H on the ejector slide B2 is released, thus allowing the ejector slide to be restored to its normal position throughv the medium of the spring b1'1 associated with the connecting arm B3. It may further be observed at this point that, when the sleeve C is moved forwardly along the shaft A3 during its restoration to normal position, the coupling engagement of the collars A9, A10 will be maintained by the compression spring C2 which, as will be recalled, reacts between the coupling collar A10 and the sleeve C. When the parts have thus been restored, the machine is ready for a normal line casting operation.

It is well known that, under ordinary circumstances, a machine cycle of operation is inaugurated by sending a composed line of matrices into the line transporter for presentation to the mold and that the starting handle K is seldom used for this purpose. However, should occasion arise to start the machine by means of the starting handle K, the movement thereof to its forward position, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. '7, will have no effect upon the operation of the automatic ejector blade setting mechanism herein described, since the slots of the connections G1 in the bar G are sufliciently long to accommodate this movement of the handle, as well as the additional movement which is required to permit the shaft A3, for the mold disc turning pinion A2, to be pulled out the necessary distance to allow the front coupling collar A10 to clear the coupling pin a. While the sleeve C would be slightly forward of its normal position, should the starting handle K be used to start the machine, as a result of the movement of the bar G, this likewise would have no effect, since it merely means that the initial rearward movement of the sleeve in effecting the setting of the ejector blade would be somewhat greater than usual in order to compensate for the added movement through which it has traveled` as a result of the operation of the starting handle K.

The present improvements also contemplate the provision of certain safety devices to prevent damage to the parts under different conditions. Thus, in order to insure that the ejector blade is properly adjusted after the mold disc has been pulled out for any reason, means are provided which require that the mold disc be adjusted to bring a mold into operative position after it has been moved rearwardly to its normal position. These means include a flange A13 integral with the hub of the mold disc A2 (see Figs. l and 5) and which overlaps the mold disc A except when the mold disc pinion has been rotated through a half revolution from its normal position. When the pinion is in this latter position, a cut-away portion A14 of the flange will be adjacent the mold disc so that the latter can be pulled forward` without interference. `This position of the mold disc pinion is indicated by a slight depression A3 in the rear face of the front coupling collar A10 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 6), and which will be entered by the coupling pin A when the shaft has been pulled out and rotated through IBB. From what has been said, it follows that the mold disc pinion must be turned through a half revolution after the mold disc is in place in order to allow re-coupling of the collars A0 and A10. Consequently, the proper setting of the ejector slide for the mold thus located in operative position will be insured, since the various mechanisms operated by the forward and return movement of the mold disc pinion will be the same as in the ordinary case of selecting a diiferent mold for use.

As a second safety feature, there is also provided a metal shield or guard L (see Figs. l, 2) extending partially around the mold disc A near the periphery thereof and in a position opposite the mold in the ejecting position, thus preventing access to such mold. Obviously, if the ejector blade is set by the operation of turning the mold disc to bring a given mold into the ejecting position, such setting of the ejector blade would not be the proper one if a different mold was substituted therefor while it is in the ejecting position.

A third safety device contemplates the provision of means for effecting a proper alinement of the mold with the ejector blade prior to the release of the mold disc pinion to allow its reconnection with the driving devices, it being recalled that this rearward movement of the pinion inaugurates the forward blade setting movement of the ejector slide. For this purpose (see Figs. 1 and 2), there is provided a lever N pivotally mounted at one end on a bracket N1 screwed to the mold disc slide at the rear of the mold disc and having its other end drilled to receive a headed stud N2 threaded into the mold disc slide. A spring N3, encircling the stud and reacting between the lever and the mold disc slide, presses a roller N4 centrally located on the lever into one or another of a series of four notches N5 provided in a ring N6 encircling the hub of the mold disc and secured to the latter at the rear, the location of the recessesl being such that, when the roller has entered any one thereof, the corresponding mold will be in perfect alinement with the ejector blade.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form, and obviously, many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths and interchangeable to bring dierent selected molds into operaf-ive position, slug ejecting mechanism having blade means adjustable to diiferent effective widths for molds having slots of different lengths, and means actuated by the interchange of molds and controlled by the length of the slot in the selected mold automatically to adjust the eiective width of the blade means to correspond.

2. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths and interchangeable to bring different selected molds into operative position, slug ejecting mechanism having blade means adjustable to different effective widths for molds having slots of different lengths, and means actuated by the interchange of molds and controlled by the slot in the newly selected mold for automatically adjusting the blade means to an effective width corresponding to the length of such mold slot.

3. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths and interchangeable in operative position with each other, slug ejecting mechanism having blade means adjustable to different effective widths for molds having slots of different lengths and a slide for operating the blade meansI during the ejection of a slug, and means actuated by the interchange of molds and controlled by the slot in the newly selected mold for automatically coupling a portion of the blade means, having an effective width corresponding to the length of such mold slot, to the slide for operation thereby while leaving the remainder of the blade means uncoupled therefrom.

4. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producslugs of diierent lengths, means for selecting one or another of said molds for use, slug ejecting mechanism having blade means adjustable to different elfective widths for molds having slots of different lengths, and means for automatically projecting a portion of the blade means into the slot of the selected mold correspondingly to adjust the width of the blade to the length of said slot.

5. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths, means for selecting one or another of the molds for use, an ejector slide, blade means adjustable to different effective widthsv for molds having slots of different lengths and adapted to be coupled to the slide, devices for projecting a portion of the blade means into the slot of the selected mold and corresponding in width to the length of the mold slot, and means for automatically coupling said portion of the blade means to the ejector slide for operation thereby.

6. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of diiierent lengths', means for selecting one or another of said molds for use, slug ejecting mechanism including a sectional ejector blade adjustable to different effective widths for molds having slots of different lengths, and means for automatically projecting a number of sections of the blade into the slot of the selected mold and as determined by the length of the slot whereby to adjust the effective width of the blade to correspond.

7. In or for a slug casting machine, the combition of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths, means for selecting one or another of said molds for use, an ejector slide, a sectional ejector blade adjustable to different effective widths for molds having slots of different lengths and adapted to be coupled to the slide, devices for projecting a number of sections of the blade into the slot cf the selected meld and as determined by the length of the slot whereby to adjust the effective width of the blade to correspond, and means for automatically coupling to the ejector slide, for operation thereby, the sections of the blade thus projected into the slot.

8. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted moles for producing slugs of different lengths, means for selecting one or another of said molds for use and slug ejecting mechanism comprising an ejector slide, operating means therefor, blade means adjustaole to different effective widths for molds having slots of different lengths and adapted to be coupled to the slide, means for moving the slide selectively to couple a portion of the blade 75 means thereto corresponding in width to the length of the slot in the selected mold for operation by the slide, and a yielding connection between the ejector slide and its operating means for permitting such movement of the slide.

9. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths, means for see lecting one or another of said molds for use and slug ejecting mechanism comprising an ejector slide, operating means therefor, blade means adjustable to diiierent eiTective widths for molds having slots of diierent lengths and adapted to be coupled to the slide, means for moving the slide selectively to couple a portion of the blade means thereto corresponding in width to the length of the slot in the selected mold for operation by the slide, a yielding connection between the ejector slide and its operating means for permitting such movement of the slide, and means for restoring the slide to normal position after the blade adjustment.

10'. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of diifcrent lengths, means for selecting one or another of said molds for use and slug ejecting ,mechanism comprising an ejector slide, operating means therefor, blade means adjustable to different effective widths for molds having slots of different lengths and adapted to be coupled to the slide, means for moving the slide selectively to couple a portion of the blade means thereto corresponding in width to the length of the slot in the selected mold for operation by the slide, a yielding connection between the ejector slide and its operating means for permitting such movement of the slide, and means including the usual hand starting lever for re storing the slide to normal position after the blade adjustment.

11. In or for a slug casting machine, the cornbination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths, means for selecting one or another of said molds for use and slug ejecting mechanism comprising an ejector slide, operating means therefor, a sectional ejector blade adjustable to diierent eifective widths for molds having slots of different lengths and adapted to be coupled to the slide, means for moving the slide selectively to couple a number of blade sections thereto corresponding in total width to the length of the slot in the selected mold for operation by the slide, and a yielding connection between the ejector slide and its operating means for permitting such movement of the slide. l

l2. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of diiferent lengths, means for selecting one or another of said molds for use, and slug ejecting mechanism comprising an ejector slide, a sectional ejector blade adjustable to different eiective widths for molds having slots of different lengths, individual devices for coupling the respective sections of the blade to the slide, means for moving the slide to project into the slot of the selected mold, a number of blade sections corresponding in total width to the length of said slot, and means for automatically rendering active the individual coupling devices cf those blade sections projected into the mold slot whereby they may be operated by the slide.

13. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths, means for selecting one or anotherof said molds-for use, and slug ejecting mechanism comprising an ejector slide, a sectional ejector blade adjustable to different eiective widths for molds having slots of different lengths, individual devices for coupling the respective sections of the blade to the slide, means for moving the slide to project into the slot of the selected mold, a number of blade sections corresponding in total width to the length of said slot, and means for rendering active the coupling devices of those blade sections projected into the mold slot, said means including devices operable automatically to lock the active coupling devices in operative position and the inactive coupling devices in inoperative position.

14. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths, means for selecting one or another of the molds for use, and slug ejecting mechanism comprising an ejector slide, blade means adjustable to an effective width corresponding to the length of the slot in the selected mold, means operable during a forward movement of the ejector slide to eect the blade adjustment, and means acting during the selection of a mold for use automatically to produce the blade adjusting movement of the ejector slide.

l5. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of diierent lengths, a mold disc wherein the molds are mounted, a driving pinion operatively connected therewith, driving means for the pinion, means for disconnecting the pinion from its driving means to permit adjusting the mold disc to bring different selected molds into operative position and for reconnecting the pinion with its driving means after the` adjustment of the mold disc has been effected, slug ejecting mechanism having blade means adjustable to different effective widths for molds having slots of different lengths, and means controlled by the disconnecting and reconnecting of the pinion and its driving means automatically to adjust the effective Width of the blade means to correspond with the length of the slot in the selected mold.

16. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths, a mold disc wherein the molds are mounted, a driving pinion operatively connected therewith, driving means for the pinion, means for disconnecting the pinion from its driving means to permit adjusting the mold disc to bring different selected molds into operative position and for reconnecting the pinion with its driving means after the adjustment of the mold disc has been effected, slug ejecting mechanism including an ejector slide and blade means adjustable to different effective widths for molds having slots of different lengths, and means acting through the slide and controlled by the disconnecting and reconnecting of the pinion and its driving means automatically to adjust the eiective width of the blade means to correspond with the length of the slot in the selected mold.

1'?. In or for a slug casting machine, the comhina-tion of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths, a mold disc wherein the molds are mounted, a driving pinion operatively connected therewith, driving means for the pinion, means for disconnecting the pinion from its driving means to permit adjusting the mold disc to bring different selected molds into operative position and for reconnecting the pinion with its driving means after the adjustment of the mold disc has been effected,

slug ejecting mechanism including an ejector slide and blade means adjustable to different effective Widths for molds having slots oi different lengths, and means conditioned during the adjustment of the mold disc and operable upon reconnecting the pinion with its driving means to actuate the ejector slide automatically to adjust the eiective width of the blade means to correspond with the length of the slot in the selected mold,

18. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths, a mold disc wherein the molds are mounted, a driving pinion operatively connected therewith, driving means for the pinion, means for disconnecting the pinion from its driving means to permit adjusting the mold disc to bring different selected molds into operative position and for reconnecting the pinion with its driving means after the adjustment cf the mold disc has been effected, slug ejecting mechanism including an ejector slide and a sectional blade adjustable to diiierent efective widths for molds having slots of different lengths, means conditioned during the adjustment o the mold disc and operable upon reconnecting the pinion with its driving means automatically to move the slide to project a number of sections of the blade into the slot of the selected mold as determined by the length thereof, and means for locking the projected sections to the ejector slide.

19. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of diierent lengths, a mold disc wherein the molds are mounted, a driving pinion operatively connected therewith, driving means for the pinion, means for disconnecting the pinion from its driving means to permit adjusting the mold disc to bring different selected molds into operative position and for reconnecting the pinion with its driving means after the adjustment of the mold disc has been effected, slug ej-ecting mechanism including an ejector slide and a sectional blade adjustable to different effective widths for molds having slots of different lengths, means conditioned during the adjustment of the mold disc and operable upon reconnecting the pinion with its driving means automatically to move the slide to project a number of sections of the blade into the slot of the selected mold as determined by the length thereof, means for locking the projected sections to the ejector slide, and means for restoring the slide and the slide actuating means to normal position after the blade adjustment has been eiected.

20. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths, a mold disc wherein the molds are mounted, a driving pinion operatively connected therewith, driving means for the pinion, means for disconnecting the pin.- ion from its driving means to permit adjusting mold disc to bringl different selected molds into operative position and for reconnecting the pinion with its driving means after the adjustment of the mold disc has been effected, slug ejecting mechanism including an ejector slide and a sectional blade adjustable to diierent eective widths for molds having slots of diierent lengths, means conditioned during the adjustment of the mold disc and operable upon recennecting the pinion with its driving means automatically to move the slide to project a number of sections of the blade into the slot of the selected mold as determined by the length thereof, means for locking the projected sections to the ejector slide, and means including the usual hand starting lever for restoring the slide and the slide actuating means to normal position after the blade adjustment has been elected.

21. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths, a removable mold disc wherein 'the molds are mounted, a mold disc pinion operable to adjust the mold disc to bring different selected molds into operative position, slug ejecting mechanism including a blade adjustable to di'erent eiective Widths for molds having slots of different length, and having portions movable into and out of the slot in the selected mold during such adjustment, and safety means to insure that the blade is adjusted after the mold disc has been removed from and returned to its normal position.

22. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths, a removable mold disc wherein the molds are mounted, a mold disc pinion operable to adjust the mold disc t0 bring different selected molds into operative position, slug ejecting mechanism including a blade adjustable to different effective widths for molds having slots of different length, and hav- Y ing portions movable into and out of the slot in the selected mold during such adjustment, and safety means including a flange on the mold disc pinion to insure that the blade is adjusted after the mold disc has been removed from and returned to its normal position.

23. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds for producing slugs of different lengths, a mold disc wherein the molds are removably mounted, said molds being interchangeable to bring any selected one thereof into operative position, slug ejecting mechanism including an ejector blade adjustable in width, means controlled by the interchange of molds for automatically adjusting the width of the blade to correspond to the length of the selected mold, and a guard to provent removal from the disc of the mold in slug ejecting position.

24. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds ier producing slugs of different lengths, a mold disc wherein the molds are mounted, a driving pinion therefor, driving mechanism for the pinion,

means for disconnecting the pinion from its f driving means to permit adjustment of the mold disc to bring diierent selected molds into operative position, slug ejecting mechanism having blade means automatically adjustable in width for molds having slots of different length, and means for effecting proper alinement of the selected mold with the ejector blade prior to reconnecting the pinion with its driving mechanism.

25. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of molds having slug casting slots of different lengths, means for selecting one or another of said molds for use, slug ejecting mechanism including a sectional ejector blade adjustable in width, and automatic means controlled by cooperation with the casting slot in the selected mold for adjusting the effective width oi the ejector blade to correspond with the length of said slot.

26. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of molds having slug casting slots of diierent lengths and interchangeable to bring different selected molds into operative position, slug ejecting mechanism including a sectional ejector blade adjustable in Width, and means actuated by the interchange of molds and Vcontrolled by cooperation with the casting slot in the selected mold for automatically adjusting the eiective Width of the ejector blade to correspond with the length of said slot.

27. In or for a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of molds having slug casting slots of different length, means for selecting one or another of said molds for use, slug ejecting mechanism adjustable to provide different eiective blade Widths, and automatic means controlled by cooperation with the casting slot in the selected mold for adjusting the ejecting mechae nism to provide an effective blade Width to corre spond with the length of said slot.

28. In or for a slug casting machine, the come bination of a plurality of molds having slug casting slots of different lengths, means for selecting one or another of said molds for use, slug ejecting mechanism having blade means adjustable to different efective Widths and a slide for operating the blade means, and automatic means controlled by cooperation with the casting slot in the seu lected mold for coupling to the slide a portion of the blade means having an enective Width corresponding to the length of said slot while leaving the remainder of the blade means upcoupled therefrom.

EDWARD H. WOODHALL. 

